Dust trap for sintering machines



Aug. 25, 1936.

A. R. WATZKE DUST TRAP FOR SINTERING MACHINES Filed Aug. 11, 1933 2Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS 1936. A. R. WATZKE 2,051,924

DUS T TRAP FOR SINTERING MACHINES Filed Aug. 11, 1933 2 Shets-Sheet 2INVENTOR Albm awqfm BY 0 Patented Aug. 1936 DUST TRAP roa snv'rsanseAlbin R. Watzke, El Paso, Tex., assignor to American Smelting andDefining Company, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 11, 1933,Serial No. 684,635

2 Claims. (01. 183111) This invention relates to dust traps forsintering machines and more particularly to a dust trap positionedbetween the suction box and the fan of a sintering machine for removingthe dust and other solid particles and preventing them from entering thefan casing or contacting with the blades of the fan.

In the sintering operation, small solid particles, such as dust, may bedrawn along with the i0 exhaust gases at a high velocity. Theseparticles, if allowed to contact with the exhaust fan, would tend toscour and wear down the metal parts of the fan blades and the housing tosuch an extent that frequent repairs and renewals would becomenecessary. The present invention, accordingly, provides means forremoving these particles from the gas stream at a point ahead of theexhaust fan so as to reduce the wear on the fan blades with a consequentreduction in the maintenance costs.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparentas the nature thereof is more fully disclosed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthis invention will be more particularly pointed out in the claimsappended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages,and the manner of its operation, may be better understood by referringto the follow- 30 ing description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings iorming a part thereof, in. which Fig. 1 is abroken transverse section through a sintering machine showingthe dusttrap applied 5 thereto;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through a modifled form of dust trap;

40 Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line [-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-6 of Fig. 3.

In the various figures of the drawings, like parts 45 are identified bysimilar reference numerals.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, the invention is shown inFigs. 1 and 2 as embodied in a dust trap III which is connected to theexhaust flue ll leading from the wind box I2 of a 5 sintering machinel3.

The sintering machine is shown as comprising a framework i4 supporting aroof i5 oi refractory material and carrying tracks I6 and I1 upon whichpallets 18 are adapted to advance. The

55 pallets l8 are provided with a perforate. bottom I9 adapted to carrya charge 20 of ore or similar material to be treated. The sinteringmachine and wind box are of standard construction and are accordinglynot shown herein in detail.

Combustion gases are circulated above the 5 charge 20 in any convenientmanner and are drawn downwardly through the charge and through theperforate'bottom I3 into the wind box 12. Thence, they are passedthrough the flue H and through the dust trap III, to be de- 10 scribed,to an exhaust flue 2| which is connected to a suitable suction means,such as a fan 22, of any desired type.

The dust trap It comprises a pair of side members 23 which are joined attheir top edges, as by 5 flanges 24, to a semi-circular member 25. Theside members 23 are joined by transverse members 26 to form a funnelshaped chamber 21 terminating in a clean-out door 28 which may be hingedto one of the transverse members 26 in any convenient manner and may beprovided with a latch 29 adapted to cooperate with a stationary flange36 to hold the door 26 in a closed position. A suitable handle 3| may beprovided for opening and closing the door. Openings 32 and 33 are formedin the transverse members 26 which are mounted in alignment with theflues II and 2| respectively, as by flanges 34 and 35, carried by saidflues which may be secured to the transverse members 26 and to flanges34a and 35a mounted on the semi-circular member 35.

The dust trap may be provided with a plurality of transverse battles,such, for example, as a vertical semi-circular baiile 36 which ismounted with the semi-circular member 25 di- 35 rectly in the path ofthe gases which pass through the dust trap from the flue II to the flue2|. A transverse inclined baiile 31 is positioned within the dust trapbetween the side members 23 and at the rear of the baflie 36 in 40 thedirection of the gas flow. The battle 31 is inclined to the direction ofthe gas flow so as to divert downwardly the gases and any particleswhich may be carried thereby.

In the operation of the device, the high ve- 5 locity gases from theflue ll enter the dust trap in and, by reason oi! the greatercross-sectional area of the -dust trap, pass therethrough at decreasedvelocity. In so passing, the gases impinge upon the baflles 36 and 31with a resultant change in direction and, thence, are caused to passaround said baflles and into the exhaust flue 2i. The dust and othersolid particles which impinge upon the baflies settle out into thechamber 21 to accumulate above the clean-out door 28. This door may beopened from time to time to remove the accumulation of particles withoutotherwise interrupting the process. The gases which pass into the flue2| are substantially free from solid particles and consequently can beapplied to the fan without danger of damage or injury thereto.

Referring to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5, flueI is shown which is similar to the flue ll of Fig. 1 and is adapted tobe connected to the suction box of a sintering machine. An inclined dusttrap 4|, comprising elongated side members 41 and end members 43. isprovided with openings 44 and 45 which are mounted in alignment with theflue 40 and with an exhaust flue 46 respectively, as by flanges 41 and48. The upper portion of the dust trap ll conforms to the top surface ofthe flue 40 whereas the lower portion of said trap is extended toprovide a chamber 49 of enlarged cross-sectional area. The flue I6 isconnected to a. suitable suction device such as a fan, not shown.

A transverse baille 50 is mounted within the dust trap ll at the upperportion thereof and extends downwardly a sufllcient distance to preventthe direct passage of gases between the flue 40 and the flue 46. Asecond baille projects longitudinally of the dust trap from a pointbelow the discharge opening 45 so as to further interrupt the flow ofgases into the flue 46. At the lower part of the dust trap a circularextension 52 may be provided which terminates in a door 53 suitablyhinged thereto and provided with a latch 54 for holding the same in a.closed position. A handle 55 permits the door to be readily opened. Theextension 52 is preferably mounted as near the lower corner of the dusttrap as may be mechanically convenient so as to permit the completeremoval of thedust which may accumulate therein.

The operation of this form of dust trap is similar to that of the dusttrap shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The exhaust gases from the sinteringmachine pass through the dust trap at decreased velocity and aredeflected around the battles 50 and 5| whereby they are caused to giveup their burden of dust and other solid particles and are dischargedthrough flue 46 in a comparatively clean condition.

It has been found that the use of the above described dust trapsmaterially increases the life of the fan blades and of the fan housing.Whereas, inspections and repairs were previously required at least oncea month, the present invention permits the operations to continueseveral months without such interruptions. The saving in cost ofreplacements and in loss of time has reached substantial proportions.

Although certain embodiments of the invention have been disclosed forpurposes of illustration, it is to be understood that the constructionof the dust trap and the location of the various bailies may be variedin a manner which will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.Furthermore, the position of the dust trap may be varied between thesuction box I! and the exhaust fan according to the requirements of theparticular installation, the essential feature being to remove the dustparticles before they are applied to the blades of the fan.

While certain specific terms have been used for convenience indescribing the preferred embodiments in the present invention, they areintended to be given as generic an interpretation as the art willpermit. The invention is only to be limited in accordance with thefollowing claims when interpreted in view of the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. A dust trap for a sintering machine comprising a chamber havingopenings in the upper portions of opposite sides adapted for positioningat right angles in a substantially horizontal exhaust flueinterconnecting the wind box and fan of the sintering machine, aplurality of bailles within said chamber, one of same extendingtransversely of the path of otherwise normal flow of gases through saidchamber and another of said baflles located at an angle with respect tosaid first bailie, said bailles being adapted to divert solid particlesand to separate same from gases entering the chamber whereby the gasesdischarged from the chamber are in a comparatively clean condition.

2. A dust trap for a sintering machine comprising a chamber havingopenings in the opposite sides at the upper portions thereof adapted tocommunicate with the exhaust flue leading from the wind box of thesintering machine, a transverse baflie within said chamber between saidopenings, a longitudinal baflle located below the discharge opening fromsaid chamber, said bailies being adapted to divert solid particles fromgases passed through the chamber and a clean-out door at the bottom ofsaid chamber for removing accumulated solid particles.

AL'BlN R. WATZKE.

